It was dark when Ariel realized they had been talking for hours without stopping. She rested back against a rock, the tip of her tail gracing the water, and listened to the prince talk about the places he had sailed. The sounds of the town's celebration were going strong. The ships had come into view over the horizon, and would soon be approaching the docks.
Eric, in turn, would listen to Ariel try to describe the beauty of the underwater world to him. She was careful never to mention her kingdom or her people. When she had deflected his questions about her family, he took the hint not to ask them anymore. Instead, he wanted to hear about the plants and animals he couldn't even dream.
The mermaids fire red hair was thoroughly dry, and crusted with salt. Ariel watched the stars above with a soft smile on her face. Even in the silvery moonlight, you could see the shimmer of her iridescent scales.
They sat near one another but did not touch. Sometimes, the prince would reach out and trace patterns down Ariel's shoulder. She was still impossibly soft. The color and feel of his suntanned hands confused her. They felt rough, and yet gentle at the same time. She watched Eric's feet, trying to imagine what it would be like to have toes.
"Can you move those?" She asked, pointing at them.
He chuckled and fanned his toes wide. Then he wiggled them and watched Ariel's he forehead crease with curiosity.
"What are they for?" Her blue eyes met his.
"They help us walk. Without them, it is quite difficult to stay balanced."
"Balanced," Ariel whispered, trying a new word on her tongue.
Eric tried to think of a way to explain balance but drew a blank. Instead, he decided to show her. Standing, he lifted one foot off the ground and used his arms to keep steady.
"If I don't position myself the right way, I will fall. That's why we use two legs on land. My toes fan out. Make it easier to stay upright."
As Ariel opened her mouth to tell him to be careful, he fell backward into the water with a loud splash. She slid down off the rocks to look for him, but his head popped back up before she needed to.
The moon was bright tonight, making it easy to see Eric's face as he watched her swim towards him.
When they were in the water like this, the mermaid and the prince looked as if they were from the same world. All their differences were nowhere to be seen. Lost in the waves.
Forgetting herself, Ariel gently placed a hand on his bare chest. She felt his heart quicken, but he made no other move. Her other hand, she brought to move his hair out of his face. Eric took hold of the hand on his chest and held it tight.
"Ariel," He whispered.
His spare arm gently hooked around her waist. He pulled her close, wanting nothing more than to kiss her at that moment.
"The music stopped," Ariel whispered.
Eric blinked, confused. "What?"
She looked back towards the docks. "The music. Do they normally stop playing when the ships arrive?"
"No," Eric followed her gaze. "If anything, it should be louder. Somethings wrong."